Clothes fastener



Nov, 5, 1940, L.. H. GILLETT CLOTHES FASTENER Filed Sept. 16, 1939 de ,e@WJ "ig f Patented Nov. 5, 1940 ICE 2,220,601 criornns FAsTENEn Leslien.v Guieu, south omaha, Nebr. Application September 16, 1939, Serlal No.295,299

2 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to a clothes-fastening device, operating as asubstitute for the conventional clothes pin used in laundry work forsecuring fabrics to a line. Fasteners for this purpose, if constructedof wood, often become split or broken, and if wood strips provided withsprings are used, the springs often become weakened, so that they arenot dependable.

Severe stresses are directed to these fasteners when the clothing on theline is exposed -to highA Winds, and therefore the grip or pressure ofthe fastener must be constant and adequate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide fastenersconstructed entirely of metallic, resilient strips of such form andarrangement that all stresses will be resisted to advan-tage, and thatdurability may be attained.

Also it is well known that laundered fabrics often become torn orinjured by action of the wind and resulting twisting or tortion of theline when in frozen condition. It is an object of the invention toprovide a clothes fastener of such construction that twisting or tortionof the'line will have no effect on the mounting or support of theclothing, so that freezing, windy weather will not result in injury tothe exposed fabric.

Other objects in view will appear hereinafter. The invention consists ofthe new and useful construction, combination and arrangement of parts asdescribed herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the drawing, itbeing understood that ichanges in form, size, proportions and minordetails may be made, said changes being within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the clothesfastener. Fig. 2 is a View in section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3isa view of a. coupling-hook.

Figs. 4, and 6 illustrate a modified form of theY invention. Fig. Y4 isa view of a clothes fastener when removedfrom the line, and Fig. 5 is asec tional view on lin-e 5 5 of Fig'. Fig. 6 is a view in frontelevation showing the fastener mounted on a clothesline,

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, andspecifically to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 'I indicates a metallicstrip bent midway between its ends to provide a loop 8 and a pair ofgripping-armsN secured to each other near the loop by a keeper 9. Theend-portions of the arms, as indicated ata are formed relativelydivergent or flaring to permit insertion between said arms of a fabricor article of clothf ing I0, and each arm has an outward curvature,indicated at b, near said end-portions to provide acompression-chamberfor said fabric or clothing.

The metallic strip is resilient and, prefeiably, stainless steel is usedfor construction. The arms of the fastener normally engage each othernear 5 their ends so that they will rmly grip the clothing l0 while anedge-portion c is conned in the chamber at b.

'Ihe clothes line is indicated at-ll, and any suitable hook may be usedfor detachably mount- 10 ing the fastener on the line in such a mannerthat it may be conveniently removed from the line, and of such fo'rmthat it will not be removed from the line by action of wind or otheraccidental causes. Also the coupling-hook should be of such form that itwill cling firmly to the line and will permit free rocking movementsthereon of the fastener.

This coupling-hook, indicated at I2, is provided with a pivot-arm dwhich engages in the loop 8, and is provided with a pair of curved armse of such form that they normally engage the line Il, said armsepreferably being connected at their ends and bent outwardly asindicated at :r (Fig.

2) for convenience in use.

As thus described it is obvious that the fastener may have a. freeswinging movement relative to the hook I 2 and line Il, this being ofadvantage to prevent injury to clothing when in frozen condition.

Since the curved parts e of the hook rmly grip the line, said hook willadequately support the Weight of clothing carried by thefastener, andwill not become detached from the line. However, the device may beconveniently removed from the line by manually pressing the end-por- Ation :c to` an upward position, the entire hook swinging from the loop 8of the fastener.

The fastener shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is the same as above describedwith the exception, that the hook I2 is not used, and the line Il isdisposed lin the chamber between the curved parts b' of the arms of thefastener 1. In the operation' of this modified form of the invention,after the clothing l0 has been placed on the 45 lineA Il', the fasteneris pressed downwardly upon the line and clothing thereon until receivedwithin the grip-chamber between/ said curved parts b, the divergentlend-portions a of said I arms facilitating Ain this operation, the loop8. 50

operating as a handlegand the keeper 9 causing portions of thearm'sfadjaent the loop to revmain relatively inV contact, so thatresiliency thereof may be utilized.

Among thea'dvantages to be derived by use 55 of theinvention, it may bestated that the fasteners are durable and are convenient in use, and inoperation they tend to prevent clothing and other fabrics from becomingtorn and injured when exposed to freezing weather.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a detachable fastener for supporting a clothes pin on a clothesline, said clothes pin being provided with a loop-member, a strand ofresilient material relatively-connected at its ends providing arectilinear pivot-arm for supporting the loop-member and bent upwardlyat approximately right-angles from the pivot-arm to provide a pair o'fcurved line-engaging portions, and

bent downwardly and convergingly from said last named portions to form aterminal clampingmember extending adjacently and below said pivot-arm.

2. In a detachable fastener for supporting a clothes pin on a clothesline, said clothes pin being provided with a loop-member, a resilientstrand providing a rectilinear pivot-arm and ment upwardly from thepivot-arm to a hooliform outline with a terminal clamping-portionnormally disposed closely adjacen'J and extending below said pivot-arm.

LESLIE H. GILLETT.

